Government Operations and Estimates

The committee met to debate a Conservative motion concerning the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the government's handling of a new revenue-sharing agreement with the United States. The motion, moved by Dan Albas, called for the production of all drafts of the agreement, a financial analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, a study of at least five meetings with testimony from several ministers and bridge authority officials, and a report to the House urging the Prime Minister to be transparent.

Conservative members argued the Prime Minister misled Canadians about the deal's terms, specifically that toll revenues would not be split until Canada's investment was repaid, when the agreement instead shares 50% of net revenues with the U.S. for 15 years. They pressed for details on operating cost definitions, the economic development fund, toll-setting benchmarks, and dispute resolution, and criticized the lack of transparency. Liberal members countered that both the 2012 agreement and the 2026 agreement in principle are public, that the 2012 agreement remains intact, and that the new deal was necessary to open the bridge and provide economic certainty. They defended the Prime Minister's statements and questioned what the opposition would have done differently.

The Bloc Québécois member supported the principle of scrutiny, raising specific legal and financial questions about the agreement's clauses. The NDP member also supported the motion, arguing Canadians deserve clarity after the Prime Minister's contradictory statements. A Liberal member moved to adjourn the meeting, and the committee adjourned without voting on the motion or an amendment proposed by Melissa Lantsman to add witnesses from impacted businesses and workers.